Closure for jars, bottles, &amp;c.



N0.l 343,35. Patented Feb. I3, |900. A. L. WEISSENTHANNER. CLSURE FR JARS, YBUTTLES, GLC. (Application niedsepz. 2s leali) (No Model.)

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the receptacle.

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ALFRED L. wEissENTnANNER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 643,215, dated February 13, 190.

Application filed September 28, 1899. Serial No. 731,943- (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. WEIssEN- THANNER, a resident of the city of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Closures for Jars, Bottles, dre. which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification. 1

The object of this invention is to provide a closure especially applicable to glass receptacles, suchk as jars and bottles, whereby after heating of the receptacle and its contents for the purpose of sterilizing or pasteurizing the latter the receptacle can be closed without leaving inside thereofn a particle of air or empty space.

The many important advantages attained by my invention will be best understood from the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, clearly illustrating the same, and wherein- Figure l is a sectional View of one form of the closure, showing the parts in the position which they occupy just previous to the application of pressure to the securing-band and the bending of the same under the flange on Fig. 2 is a similar viewindieating the position of the parts after pressure has been applied to the securing-band and the lower edge of the same bent under the flange of the jar. Figs. 3, t, and 5 are sectional views showing different positions assumed by the iiexible cover during the sterilizing operation. Fig. 6 shows in section a modified form of closure, and 7 is a detail and packing-ring of the closure shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. l to 5 of the drawings, A is a receptacle having around its mouth an outwardly-projecting iiange c, the outer wall of the receptacle above said flange being undercut, as clearly shown at b. C is the cover, made oi' pliable metal which will not affect the contents of the receptacle by contacting therewith, turned down around its outer edge to form a depending part c7 which in turn is bent outwardly at its lower edge to form a flange c', extending entirely about the cover. The interior diameter of the depending part c is such as to fit over the upper end of the receptacle about the undercut wall b, allowing the flat central part of the cover to rest Y against the upper edge of the receptacle and the iiange c' to bear against the upper surface of the flange a. D is a packing-ring tting around the depending part c of the cover and resting on the flange c', while E is a securing- 5 5 band having an inwardly-projecting flange c around its upper edge, which overhangs the packing-ring D.

In closing a receptacle the parts are first assembled thereon, as shown in Fig. l. Pres- 6o sure being then applied to the securing-band E, the packing-ring is compressed, as shown in Fig. 2, forcing the depending part cof the cover into close contact with the undercut wall b, and the lower extremity of the securing-band is turned under the flange a 011 the receptacle. An opening f is provided in the cover C to permit the escape of all air from the receptacle A when the same is heated, as

will be presently described. This opening is 7o provided with an upturned flange f' thereabout, which is adapted to be pinched together by a suitable tool to close the opening.

In Figs. G and 7 I have shown means for securing the pliable cover in place differing from the means shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and specially applicable to bottles. G represents the neck of a bottle, around the mouth of which is a iiange or enlargement g, the outer face of which tapers in opposite directions 8o from a central line or apex g', at which the iiange has its greatest diameter. H is a metallic ring turned inwardly at its upper and lower edges to form flanges h 7i, between which packing-ring I is held. Before being applied to the receptacle these parts appear as shown in Fig. 7; but when forced down onto the boty tle over the pliable metallic cover K the packing-ring adapts itself to the shape of the outer face of the wall of flange g, gripping the cover 9o prisoned in the receptacle after the sealing roo' is effected-such goods, for example, as milk or olives. As already stated, my invention also enables packed receptacles to be closed withoutleavin g therein any unoccupied space whatsoever.

The following method of procedure has been found to yield excellent results, milk being the alimentary product to be preserved, for example: Fill the jar or receptacle to near the top with the milk and then putthe parts of the closure in'place, as shown in Fig. 2. Then, applying a downward pressure to the parts, turn the lower edge of securingband E under the flange a on the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 2. Next place the jar, sealed as described, in a water-bath, the level of the water reaching only the lowest part of the closure, and heat the bath until the boilingpoint is reached. During the operation the expansion of the milk will expel from the vessel any air that may have remained therein between the level of the milk and the under side of the cover or been freed from the milk by the boiling thereof. Some of the milk may even escape from the opening f,- but this will in no way interfere with the final result, but, on the contrary, indicates that no air remains in the jar. The openingfis now closed by pressing the ange f together with a pair of pincers, or it may be closed with solder. The operation may be stopped at this point unless the nature of the goods to be preserved is such as to require more thorough pasteurization to insure their preservation, in which case the jars can be further heated in a retort under pressure.

The action of the pliable metallic cover will be readily perceived. When first applied and before heating, it appears as shown in Fig. 3. When the receptacle and its contents are heated, the expansion of the milk forces-the cover upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, and while in this position the aperturefin the cover is closed. When the vessel and its contents have become cool, the cover usually presents a concave appearance, as shown in Fig. 5, leaving no unoccupied space in the top of the receptacle, which would permit movement of the goods therein. This is of great advantage and importance in that it prevents shaking and churning of the contents of the receptacle, and thus avoids deleterious effects produced thereby.

Among the advantages gained by the closure forming the subject-matter of this invention the following maybe mentioned as being of most importance:

First. There is no contact between the contents of the receptacle and the packing-ring, (usually made of rubber.)

Second. The jar or receptacle can be filled absolutely full of liquid and the closure applied without dan ger of bursting when heated for purpose of sterilization.

Third. The air is automatically expelled from the receptacle by the expansion of the liquid contained therein.

Fourth. After the first heating and the closing of the vent-hole in the cover, the liquid having once expanded to its maximum, the jar or receptacle can be further heated to 240 Fahrenheit or more without danger of its breaking or rupture of the closure, as the pliable metallic cover will yield to any expansion that may take place.

Fifth. Upon cooling of the receptacle after heating the contraction of the liquid will draw the pliable metallic cover inwardly, so that no unoccupied space or vacuum is left inside of the receptacle. This action would not take place with a cover made of stiff or rigid metal or material such as glass.

The results or advantages above mentioned are not attainable with closures now ordinarily used, for the following reasons: If an ordinary glass jar of liquid is hermetically sealed and heated, the expansion of the liquid will burst the cover before it reaches the boilingpoint. If a jar full of liquid is closed witha rigid unyielding cover having a vent-opening, a certain amount of liquid will escape through the vent-opening upon heating, due

to expansion, and when contraction takes place a vacuum will be left within the jar, allowingr the contents thereof to be shaken. Furthermore, with ordinary closures the liquid in the receptacle has access to the packing-ring.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a jar or the like having an outwardly-projecting flange about the same just below the mouth thereof, of a pliable metallic cover having a depending part around its edge and an outwardly-projecting ilange around the lower edge of said depending part, said flange resting against the upper edge of the flange on the jar, a compressible packing-ring engaging about the depending part of the cover and on top of the flange thereon, and means for securing the packingring in place under pressure.

2. The combination with a jar or the like having an outwardly-projecting flange about the same just below the mouth thereof, of a pliable metallic coverhaving a depending part around its edge, and an outwardly-projecting flange around the lower edge of said depending part, said flange resting against the upper edge of the flange on the jar, a compressible packing-ring engaging about the depending part of the cover and on top of the flange thereon, and a securing-band having an inwardly-projecting flange around its upper IOO IIO

edge overhangin g the packing-ring and adapted at its lower edge to be bent under the flange on the jar for securing the packing-band in place under pressure.

3. The combination with ajar or the like, having an outwardly-projecting flange about the same just below the mouth thereof, the exterior wall of the jar above said flange being undercut, of a pliable metallic cover having a depending part around its edge and an outwardly-projecting flange around the lower curing-the peeking-ring in place under pies- Sure.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two suhseribing Witnesses.

ALFRED L. WEISSENTHANNER. Witnesses:

JULES H. DOMENUGUE, TIMBROOK MOTT. 

